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palliative sedation
Indications:
- failure of standard palliative care to relieve suffering toward the end of life
Procedure:
- proportionate palliative sedation uses the minimum amount of sedation needed to relieve refractory suffering
- progressive increases in sedation may be needed, sometimes to the point of unconsciousness, but consciousness is maintained if possible
- palliative sedation with the intended end point of unconsciousness is a more controversial practice
Notes:
- unlike physician-assisted suicide or euthanasia, the intent of palliative sedation is to relieve refractory suffering in patients who are dying
- death is secondary to the underlying disease process
- palliative sedation does not shorten survival
General
sedation
References
- Quill TE et al.
Last-resort options for palliative sedation.
Ann Intern Med 2009 Sep 15; 151:421.
PMID: 19755367